Uphill fight for Hagel, Brennan nomination

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Carl Levin said he was asking the Senate Armed Services Committee to consider the nomination of Chuck Hagel as defense secretary in a Tuesday session.

"It is the chairman's intention to vote on the nomination after the members have an opportunity for discussion," committee Chairman Levin, D-Mich., said in a statement.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told CBS News' "Face the Nation" he was considering blocking a vote on former Sen. Hagel, R-Neb., and John Brennan, Obama's pick to lead the CIA.

"I don't think we should allow Brennan to go forward for the CIA directorship, Hagel to be confirmed to secretary of Defense until the White House gives us an accounting (on Libya)," said Graham.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was questioned about the State Department's response to a 2012 attack in Libya that left U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three of his staff members dead.

Hagel faced frustrated Republican senators during his nomination hearing earlier this month. His stance on Iran and Iraq was seen as out of step with his former colleagues' positions.

Last week, Levin expressed concern that Republicans were over-reaching with their objections to Obama's nominees.

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